Apparatus for synchronized projection of pictures and music on film



J1me 1950 .1 s. WENDOVER ET AL 2,511,312

APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONIZED PROJECTION OF PICTURES AND MUSIC ON FILMFiled June 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 //v VE/V TORS C/(ARLES F WEBBER Mncx6. WENDOVER 53 29g. ATTORNEY June 13, 1950 J. s. WENDOVER ET AL ,5

APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONIZED PROJECTION OF PICTURES AND MUSIC ON FILMFiled June 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 bvvavrons 61/42458 A WEBBER vac-x 5-Wf/vaovev? A TTUR/VEY Patented June 13, 1950 OFFICE APPARATUS FORSYNCH'RO'NIZED PRO- JECTION OF PICTURES AND MUSIC ON FILM J ack S.Wendover, Los Angeles, Calif and Charles F. Wcbber, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application June 5, 1947, Serial No. 752,672

6 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus ,for synchronized projection ofmusic on film, and more particularly to such apparatus, as will keepeach member of an orchestra constantly supplied with the proper music,merely by setting of a dia1 on leaders stand.

To carry sheet music to give a selection of several hundred numbers,amounts to a considerable burden for each instrument. When the orchestra:is large, it becomes enormous. Also, unless each member keeps it wellindexed and in proper order, it results in confusion. In any event, muchtime is spent in finding and changin music, and it is always anunpleasant disturbance. Although the li hting ght be considered good,there may be ar n some cases, and Shading by other members other cases,so hat the :music. is 'diflicult to read, and with lights dimmed, it maybe very .difiic-ult.

One important object of our invention is to provide all the musicrequired for a great number of selections for a large orchestra, in suchsmall bulkand weight, that it can be carried and .kept in possession ofone person.

Another object is to relieve members of an orchestra of all chores,except playing their instruments, each member having constantly theforehim the music he to play, and obviating all confusion and mistakes as:to the proper sheets of music.

Another object is o render music easily r adable under allcircumstances, by proper Slight pplication from a source within a cabint. projecting music on a screen in top of cabinet.

Another-objectis to provide automatically controlled projection .ofmusic, for each member of :an orchestra, at reasonab e expe s Otherobjects will be apparent from the description and appended claims.

For a full disclosure of our invention, reference is made to thedescription following and to the drawings, in which-- Fig. 1 is anelevation view, with arts in section to show apparatus. A -1eaderscabinet is shown at A, one of several musicians cabinetsat B, and a,flat lying cabinet ffor piano at C.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of a musicians cabinet, showinginterchangeable displ y of insignia of orchestra.

.3 is a :larger scale plan view, showing details of film on drivlngpulley, with position indicator, film band splice with marking and idlerpulley ada'ustment.

Fig. 4 is wiring diagram for motors, projector and light for onecabinet.

In the selected embodiment of our invention, which is hereby disclosed,we provide cabinets I II for each of the musicians, and a cabinet I lfor the leader. These cabinets, provided in lieu of music stands, arepreferably of wood, but might be made or other materials. Into each ofthe cabinets 1.0, we install a projector I 2, with film 13 .on severalspecial film handling pulleys, to be described later, two selfsynchronous motors l4 and 15 in parallel, for turning film on pulleys,to be further described later, and a projection screen I16, consistingcommonly of a frosted glass plate. Into the leaders stand, we make alike installation, and in addition, install a motor 11, which will belater described, a gear train I 8 and a dial l9. Except for a moreconvenient location for the dial, it could be coaxially connected to themotor H, as the gear train I 8 has a ratio of unity and serves no otherpurpose, except providing a more convenient location for the dial. Themotors H and 15 act as receivers, and the motor I! acts as atransmitter. These motors are :of the type, that are self-synchronous,and receiving units follow all movements of the transmitter, andindicate simultaneously at several remote stations. Actually thetransmitter operates as a generator, and receivers operate as motors.Principle of operation is the balance of induced voltages, which resultsin rotor of receiver taking exact corresponding position, to that ofrotor of transmitter. The leader, by use f the transmitter in hiscabinet, controls the many receivers in cabinets of orchestra members,so that .the same selection, with the proper music for each instrument,is projected from the film and .thrown'on the screen, provided by thefrosted glass plate in inclined top of each of the stands. All motorsare connected in parallel, and the apparatus can be plugged into thecommon alternating current single phase lighting circuit. If the currentis three phase, wiring to make use of only one of the phases, is ofcourse necessary. The two motors l4 and i5 acting as receivers, areagain connected in parallel "with each other, and the reason two areused, isto minimize overshooting and attain the required accuracy. Themotorsare of the high accuracy type, but a variation of one degree ispossible, with a single'motor. By joining in parallel a second receivingmotor, this variation is reduced .to a small fraction, which, withlatitude available in screen, projector opening and focus, comes wellwithin the accuracy required. The second motor, to which the increasedaccuracy is applied, is connected coaxially with one of said pulleys,which acts as a driving pulley, to be described. later, to change framesof film I3 projected on screen 16.

In both cabinets l and II, the projector and film handling and drivingapparatus is housed in a drawer 20, which may be pulled out to easilychange the film band, and make any adjustments necessary. This drawermay pull out in the rear or on the side, and in the case of the cabinetfor a piano, may pull out at the end. The leaders cabinet is alsoprovided with a light translucent panel 2 I, over which, an index ofmusic numbers is easily inserted. This index shows selections numberedin accordance with the numbers on the dial, so that by turning dialindicator to the number opposite the selection shown on the index, themusic for that selection will be projected on the different cabinetscreens. A light 22 is provided on all musicians cabinets for emergency,and on leaders cabinet likewise and to facilitate reading of index andturning of dial. Rarely, will the light be used by musicians inconnection with projected music, but it is availablefor playing fromsheet music, in an emergency. A light translucent panel 23 is providedin the front of each of musicians cabinets l0, into which, can beinserted a display of the orchestras insignia, and which is lighted upfrom within by the projector 12. Power and light circuits 24 and 25respectively, with switches 26 and 21 respectively, are provided leadingto, joining and governing the different devices.

The set-up disclosed, employs standard film of 8 mm. width and with 4mm. by 5 mm. frames. It uses two film frames for each double sheet ofmusic, which is ordinarily sufficient for each selection. Since sheetmusic is mostly 7x10 and some 9%x12", when folded, resulting in 14" wideby high and 19" wide by 12" high respectively, the proportion is properto photograph a double sheet on two film frames. The screen proportionsare likewise proper for this film size, so with a standard projectoraltered as to opening and lens, so as to properly project two filmframes at a time of 8 mm. film, the

apparatus works out well. A system can of course 1 be devised tophotograph 8 mm. film, so a double sheet of music will appear on asingle film frame 4 mm. X 5 mm.'in cross direction on the film, and thenpassed through projector to be accommodated on the screen l6, byre-positioning projector or by guiding film to pass through projector ina direction at right angles to that shown. With 8 mm. film length foreach selection, and assuming a dial with 360 divisions, the film band isfitted into cabinets with guiding pulleys 28, a driving pulley 29 andadjustable idler pulleys 30, as shown on the drawing. The driving pulley29 has sprocket teeth to engage perforations in film, and working inconjunction with guiding pulleys 28 and adjustable idler pulleys 3B,govern exact movement of film in either direction. A splice 3iaccurately secures ends of film, so that an endless band is formed andcarries a mark to set to for registry. Other film sizes and dialdivisions may of course be devised and used. An indicator 32 isprovided, to which all film bands are set to register. With identicalmechanical set-up in each cabinet, and with transmitter and receivers insuch close accuracy with each other, a selection may be had of anynumber, either forward or backward or anywhere on the film band. Thereceivers run forward or backward, whichever way transmitter is turned,and may be step by step either way or selective by either the shorter orlonger way, whichever is selected.

A customary adjusting screw 33, provides for movement back and forth ofthe lens holder 34 of the projector, to bring same into proper focus. Toprovide for close adjustment of film band, to take care of anyvariations and attain closely identical mechanical setups, adjustingplates 35 are applied to each of the idler pulleys 30. The pulleys areconstantly spring mounted to adjusting plates, by brackets 36 slidablebars 31 and springs 38, to maintain the necesary amount of tension,after proper setting of adjusting plates. The film bands, when notmounted for projection, are loosely wound and stored on reels. "Amodification of the use of a film band, consists of a belt or endlesschain rack, for inserting separate frames of film of music in the orderdesired, eliminating need to cut and splice film, to make changes innumbers of a selection. Where cabinets of such small size are desired,so as to require installation of apparatus in an abnormal position, andalso create too much heat in too close proximity to the film, it ispossible to make use of a right angle prism of glass or a mirror at 45,to solve the problem, by turning light beams in a right angle.

If the orchestra or band is large, so that there are too many receiversto be handled by a single transmitter, then a second or thirdtransmitter is installed in parallel with the first transmitter, and inturn, the allowable number of receivers hooked up with each transmitter.Usually, a transmitter will control eight sets of two receivers each.Capacitors may be also used to reload the line, so that additionalreceivers may be handled.

We do not claim herein specifically, structure of any of the elements,but in the particular new assembly of elements, which coact in a new Wayto bring about new and beneficial results, long desired but notheretofore attained. It is the product of the simultaneous or successiveaction of all the elementary parts, viewed as one entire Whole, that isinvolved.

From the foregoing, it is apparent how the apparatus works. The settingof dial on the leaders stand, accordingly results in a similar settingat all the other stands, and a change by the leader from one panel orsheet to the next, step by step or to another number elsewhere on thefilm, likewise simultaneously takes place at all the other stands. Eachstand has the music film with the particular arrangement, prepared forits particular instrument, and arranged in corresponding order onthefilm. Each member has constantly before him, the music he is to play,without any effort or responsibility on his part, and with no chance ofconfusion or mistake. The music is turned for him. It increases controlof conductor over a large band or orchestra. In concerts and opera,music can be improved or accomplished with less effort, as the directorand all members have the additional freedom to concentrate, as to timeof "play of different parts and putting more emphasis into the music. Atthe same time, the burden of carrying the bulk represented by a largenumber of selections for a large orchestra, is eliminated. Also, thereis proper light application at all times, from a source within acabinet, projecting music on a screen in top of cabinet. What wouldotherwise cause shadows, is of no efi'ect, and lights of the hall may bedimmed and the music can be read even better. Music publishers caninstead of printing, film the music, thereby opening up a new field forthem, and thus there would be no controversy in regard tocopyright. Theappaiatus, however, is not limited to use in the field of music. Itserve as well for projecting ra'dio script 'on screens f orparticipants, facilitatingg'reatly ind'ramatic productions, in givingadditiona'l-ireedom in zplayingparts and giving opportunity to do otherthings to better the production, like promptin'g and signalling others,adding effects, timing and more gusto. 'Itelim-inates use and turning"of script paper, which 'creates niuch disturbing noise in broadcasting.With more use of television in the offing, its application will befurther similarlyextended.

What we claim 1. In a system of the class described, in com-- bination,a plurality of wood *cabinets, a ='drawer in bottom portion ofeach'adaptedtd'open but in aconvenientdirecticm from s'aidcabinet tohold projector "apparatus, a frosted glass screen in each or saidcabinets inclined at a convenient angle for vision, an exterior downwarddirected light over top of eachoi said cabinets, one ofsaid cabinetsbeing of greater dimension than-other cabinets and having in its top apartly transparent panel illuminated from within for an index, and eachof said-other'cabinets having a partly transparent panel in an'easil ysee'n location for an interchangeable insignia display illuminated fromWithin, a projector a aratus in drawer of each cabinet, a film withmusic recorded thereon of proper proportions for projection 'on saidscreen, a driving pulley and a plurality of "guiding pulleys and idleradjusting :pulleys for said film, two self-synchronous motor receiversin everycabinet having circuit connections inparallel with each otherand one having axial connection to said driving pulley, a self-synchronous motor transmitter :saidig reater dimension cabinetconnected-in parallel -to said receivers and adapted to direct movementof said receivers, a dial on said cabinet having aagear train connectionto said transmitter to select music to be projecte'd, and. circuits forall power and light including terminal boxes and switches.

2. In a system of the class described, in combination, a plurality ofwood cabinets, one of which *is larger than the -other-cabinets, {azproj'ector apparatus for every cabinet, two self-synchronous motorreceivers for every cabinet, a self-synchronous motor transmitter forsaid larger cabinet, a controlling dial for transmitter, and light'andpower circuits; each of said cabinets having a, drawer in bottom portionthereof to hold said projector apparatus, a frosted glass screen in topconveniently inclined for good visiongan exterior downwarddirected lightover said top, said larger cabinet also having in addition, a similarlyinclined glass display panel for an index, all other cabinets havingalso a vertical glass panel for interchangeable insignia display, alldisplay panels being illuminated from within; said projector apparatusconsisting of a housing, a light source, a lens adjustable relative tosaid light source, a film band with music recorded thereon, a drivingpulley and a plurality of pulleys for guiding and adjusting said film;said self-synchronous motor receivers having circuit connections inparallel with each other and one of said receivers having mechanicalconnection to said driving pulley; said self-synchronous motortransmitter having circuit connections in parallel with said receiversand adapted to direct movement of said receivers in either direction todrive said pulley; said controlling dial for transmitter on said largercabinet having a gear train engaging with said transmitter andgraduations on said idiai to correspond with numbers on said index incabinet, which correspond to music numbers =on-sa-id film; saidlight-and power circuits including switches and terminal boxes andleading from common lighting circuit, having modifications consisting ofsecondary circuits 'for power.

3. In a system of the class described, in combination, apluralityofcabinets,one of which is of greater dimension than other cabinets, adrawer in each'of-saidcabinets, a projector in said drawer, a film withmusic recorded thereon 'for said projector, an inclined screen in topofsaid cabinets for projection of said film, an electric lamp over eachcabinet, a vertical light translucent panel in each 'ofsmal-ler cabinetsadapted to exhibit interchangeable insignia, an inclined lighttranslucent index panel in top of said greater dimensioncabinet'adriving pulley and-a plurality of guiding pulleys and springmounted ladjusting idler pulleys in each cabinet for said film, meansfor driving each of said driving pulleys consisting of a pair ofself-synchronous electrical receiving devices inparallel connection,

' as many 'as-eigh-t*pa-irs-of which are controlled simultaneously by aself-synchronous electrical transmitting device "in parallel connectionwith said first-mentioneddevices, and arranged so that induced voltagesare balanced and said first mentioneddevices take corresponding positionof that to which second mentioned device may be turned, :said *firstmentioned pair of devices coacting toreduceanyovershooting toa veryslight amount-and when-so required, a second and a third of said secondmentioned devices may be connected in parallel to the first toaccommodate a, greater number of said first mentioned devices, a dialonsaid greater dimension cabinet with gear connections to *said secondmentioned device with markings corresponding to said index and to musicrecorded :on film, and circuits including switches-andterminals for saidlights and modified to be :adapted to said means but originating from an(alternating current :single phase lighting-circuit.

4. In a :syst'em of the :class 'descri'bedin combination, arpluralityofcabinets, one of which is alarger cabinet,-the others being-smallercabinets and-arranged-in vertical orrhorizontal-;position to suit,-adrawer in=each of said cabinets, a projector in said drawer, a film withmusic recorded there on-ior -said;projector,.an inclined .screen in topof said cabinets for projection of said electric lamp in position tolight exterior of top of said cabinets, saidapro'jector, film and screenhaving arrangement whereby two film frames at a time are projected andaccommodated by screen, each two frames as a general rule comprising oneselection reproduced on film from an opened sheet of standard sheetmusic, a vertical light translucent panel in each of smaller cabinetsarranged for insertion of insignia display, an inclined lighttranslucent panel with index in top of said larger cabinet, a drivingpulley and a plurality of guiding pulleys and adjusting idler pulleysfor said film, a pair of self-synchronous motor receivers for everycabinet, and in addition for said larger cabinet, a self-synchronousmotor transmitter, each pair of receivers having circuit connections inparallel with each other to minimize overshooting, one of said receivershaving direct connection to said driving pulley, said transmitter havingcircuit connections in parallel with said receivers and adapted todirect rotation of said receivers in either direction to drive saidpulley, a dial on said larger cabinet gear train connected to saidtransmitter, markings on said dial corresponding to numbers on saidindex and film to bring position of film selection into registry forprojection by turning dial to number selected from index, and circuitsfor illumination, projection and power including switches and terminals.1

5. In a system of the class described, in combination, a plurality ofwood cabinets, a drawer in each cabinet, a projector apparatus in eachdrawer, a screen'in each cabinet positioned to accommodate saidprojector apparatus and positioned for good vision from rear of saidcabinet, an exterior downward directed light over top of each cabinet,one of said cabinets being of greater dimensions than other cabinets andhaving a translucent panel for an index along side of said screen, saidpanel being susceptible to projector apparatus light from within cabinetand said exterior downward directed light from without, each of saidother cabinets having a translucent panel for an interchangeableinsignia display illuminated from within, a film with music, radioscript, dramatic instructions and the'like recorded thereon of properproportions for projection on said screen, said film being so arrangedin direction that it passes through projector according to whetherselection is photographed lengthwise or cross-wise of film that it isaccommodated by said screen, a driving pulley and a plurality of guidingpulleys and idler adjusting pulleys for said film, two self-synchronousmotor receivers in every cabinet having electric circuit connections inparallel with each other and mechanical connection of one to saiddriving pulley, a self-synchronous motor transmitter in said greaterdimension cabinet connected in parallel to said receivers and adapted todirect movement of said receivers, means in connection with transmitterin said greater dimension cabinet by which movement of receivers asdirected by said transmitter moves film to desired selection by using ofreference number shown on index, and electrical circuits forillumination, projectionand power including switches and terminals.

6. In a system of the class described, in combination, a plurality ofwood cabinets, one of which is larger than the other cabinets, a frostedglass screen over opening in inclined top of each of said cabinets, adownward directed light over top of each cabinet, a drawer in bottomportion of each cabinet, a projector mounted in each of said drawers, atranslucent panel in inclined top of said larger cabinet to accommodatean interchangeable index, a translucent vertical panel inside of each ofthe other cabinets to accommodate interchangeable orchestra insigniadisplays, a movable 'belt like member carrying a series of musicalselections on film units arranged for projection on said screen, adriving pulley and a plurality of guiding pulleys and idler adjustingpulleys for said belt like member, said projector being positioned tolight up translucent panels for index and insignia as well as projectsaid film .units, and having means to turn light source in a right angleby arranging angle of refiection equal to angle of incidence on areflecting medium, so that a smaller cabinet may be used and also tolessen efiect of heat on projected film units, two self-synchronousmotor receivers in every cabinet, a self-synchronous motor transmitterin said larger cabinet, one of said motor receivers having directconnection to said driving pulley, a system of circuits whereby inducedvoltages are balanced so that said two motor receivers always take aposition corresponding to position of said transmitter and by using twomotor receivers, any slight variation of position is reduced to nearlynil and when the number of receivers exceeds a determined number, asecond and a third transmitter may be joined to said transmitter andthese in turn joined to an equal number of receivers to accommodate agreater total number of cabinets, a manually operated selector indefinite connection to transmitter in said larger cabinet having acorresponding series of numbers to numbers of musical selections and tonumbers of index to cause said receivers to turn film to any desiredselection.

CHARLES F. WEBBER. JACK S. WENDOVER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,516,277 Hegerman Nov. 18, .19241,648,410 Lawton Nov. 8, 1927 1,809,599 Owens June 9, 1931 1,881,757Long et al. Oct. 11, 1932 1,985,253 Hopkins Dec. 25, 1934 2,131,952House Oct. 4, 1938 2,227,201 Ross Dec. 31, 1940 2,342,938 Hopkins Feb.29, 1944 2,401,612 Carrington June 4, 1946 2,421,077 Miller May 27, 1947

